Audi 2007 Annual Report Download - page 116

he Le Mans circuit in northern
France has been the site of the
legendary sportscar race ever since
1923. Again and again the Le Mans 24
Hours has stunned and thrilled drivers
and spectators from all over the world.
At the 75th edition of the race in 2007,
the Audi team notched up a majestic but
hard-fought victory. The race proved that
no win – even the seventh – should ever
be taken for granted.
More than 250,000 spectators en-
dured torrential rain to witness the final
lap after 24 hours of racing. 24 nail-
biting hours packed with excitement,
hopes and disappointments. The smell
of gasoline and diesel wafts over the
track, right up to the packed grand-
stands. Tires squeal as cars drift around
the corners and sometimes slide off
the track – this 13.5 kilometer course
Tpushes the drivers to the limits of their
endurance.
At 12:52:25 precisely, everyone holds
their breath one more time, whether
they are in the pits, on the grandstands
or watching on screen. The 78,745th
second is a classic shocker. Frank Biela
hits the brakes for the first chicane, but
his Audi R10 TDI skids forward off the
tarmac. Slowly, gingerly, car number 1
rolls back onto the track.
Audi no.1 picks up speed again.
Frank Biela steers with care and control
before speeding up again. It was only
the rain. Minutes earlier it had started
pouring down over the start and finish
line. Biela got caught unawares by the
slippery surface, but otherwise always
displayed the masterful control of an
experienced driver. Then it’s time for
the pit crew to get ready for a driver and
tire change.
At 12:56 Marco Werner rolls back out
onto the circuit. Two hours of racing lie
ahead of him, with five laps’ advantage
over the second-placed car, but in con-
ditions that are steadily worsening. For-
tunately, Werner knows how to balance
speed and safety, risk and responsibility –
the mark of a professional.
At 15:02, Marco Werner crosses the
finish line, taking Audi’s seventh
Le Mans victory since the year 2000.
A crowd of 250,920 gets to witness
Every second counts
Le Mans is legendary. The 24-hour race is associated with destiny, defeat, adren-
alin and drama, thrilling duels and great victories. Defending champions Audi
again managed to secure victory at the 2007 edition of this endurance classic.
COPY Hermann Reil
Pit stop: During driver and
tire changes every maneu-
ver has to be just right.
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WATCH THE MOVIE
Experience a car with winners’
genes, the Audi R8 sportscar on
www.audi.com/ar2007/r8.